Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk 2: B/R Staff Predictions

The combat-sports calendar ends 2024 with a megafight of epic proportions as Oleksandr Usyk faces Tyson Fury for the second time this year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the undisputed heavyweight championship of boxing on the line.

It was Usyk who proved to be the victor back in May with an impressive decision victory over Fury.

There's a wise old saying in Combat Sports: Father Time is undefeated.

Now, it may seem contradictory to apply this statement to Tyson Fury who, at 35, is two years younger than the 37-year-old Oleksandr Usyk. But if we were to look at the trends of both fighters in recent bouts, Usyk seems like the combatant that is heading upwards.

Fury's last two fights were against Francis Ngannou, an MMA fighter moonlighting in boxing, and Usyk back in May. Both showings were poor for a champion of the standard that Fury sees himself at. Were it not for Fury's ability to take unbelievable punishment and keep going, we may have been talking about two decisive defeats for Fury instead of an unimpressive win and a decision loss.

Usyk is undefeated in his career, has shown the ability to stay away from Fury's advantage of having his opponent carry his weight around in the clinch and is technically proficient enough to flummox his bigger and heavier opponent.

This is boxing, and one punch can change destinies. Fury has the ability and power to turn anyone's lights out. But the pick here is that we've seen the best of the Gypsy King and his best now isn't enough.

Prediction: Usyk by Unanimous Decision

- Lucky Ngamwajasat

I've seen a lot of people backing Tyson Fury in this rematch, and it's easy to see why that's the case. "The Gypsy King" is clearly one of the best heavyweights of this generation, and it's not like he was without success in his first fight with Oleksandr Usyk—even if he almost got finished in the ninth round. We also know Fury can make the necessary adjustments to win rematches. He proved that in his unforgettable three-fight series with Deontay Wilder. Based on all that, it's definitely fair to assume he can find a way to even the score with Usyk this weekend.

That's just not how I see it going, though. As Lucky mentioned, Fury has shown some hints of decline recently, most notably in his fight with UFC outcast Francis Ngannou, who he should have dominated, but instead narrowly beat by decision. Usyk, meanwhile, is clearly one of the best opponents Fury has ever encountered, and is certainly a much tougher puzzle to solve than somebody like Wilder, who the Brit had pretty much figured out by the time of their second meeting.

The main reason I'm backing Usyk to make it 2-0 against Fury, though, is simple: I watched him beat Fury less than a year ago. I know he can do it. I have no real reason to believe the opposite is true in 2024.

I'm expecting a fight that looks a bit like the prequel, though I think Fury will be able to avoid the kind of punishment he took in round nine of the first fight.

Prediction: Usyk by unanimous decision

- Tom Taylor

My esteemed colleagues made cogent arguments as to why Oleksandr Usyk will leave Saudi Arabia with the same status he arrived – undisputed (sort of) heavyweight champion.

He's sublimely skilled and undeniably determined, and he put those qualities on full display while outworking a bigger and presumably stronger foe across 12 rounds in May.

There's no debate in this space. Usyk won the fight.

But the reason he won't win the next one is less about him and more about Fury.

Lest anyone forget, the "Gypsy King" will arrive again this weekend as the taller, longer man, and presumably with some significant portion still remaining of the toolkit he'd used across two reigns at heavyweight, during which he'd won five championship fights, four by KO.

And it's not as if the springtime go-round was a rout.

Instead, recall that Fury won seven of 12 rounds against Usyk on one scorecard and six of 12 on another, despite spending a significant portion of the fight's first half in clown mode, which left him too close for comfort with the judges and too pooped to pop in the late going.

It won't be the case this time. He's simply too good—still—to let it happen again.

Prediction: Fury by TKO, Round 10

– Lyle Fitzsimmons